Growth and characterization of epitaxial oxide-based electron and hole-doped thin films and their heterostructures

2016 - 2017The main goal of this dissertation is the study of the effects induced by quantum confinement in transition-metal oxides quantum wells (QWs). The field of possible applications of oxide-based heterostructures (oxide-based nanoelectronics, spintronics, quantum computation, excitonic devices, energy conversion in solar cells, etc.) is very ample and growing, thanks to the many fascinating and exotic properties of transition-metal oxides and their versatility as well. p-type SrMnO3/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/SrMnO3 QWs and n-type SrCuO2/Sr0.9La0.1CuO2/SrCuO2 QWs have been studied. The first part of my work has been devoted to the investigation of quantum confinement achievement using a Mott insulator with a small band gap. The observed results suggest that this type of material can be successfully used in QWs. As a final result of my work, the achievement of dimensional effects induced by the layering on the normal state of both investigated systems (n and p-doped) has been assessed. In addition, the layering has been shown to influence the superconducting state of the investigated n-doped QWs and on the metal-to-insulator transition of the p-doped QWs. The investigation of the behavior of each layer constituent the QW (both n and p-doped) is relevant in view of future growth of proximate p-n doped systems. Part of my work, therefore, has been devoted to the study of the properties of (Sr,La)CuO2 thin films. The study of electrical transport properties of SLCO thin films as a function of the doping has allowed to relate the presence of the low temperature upturn in the (Sr,La)CuO2 resistivity versus temperature curves the quantum interference effects produced by weak localization effects. Furthermore, the presence of low temperature Fermi liquid behaviors in SLCO thin films has also been observed... [edited by Author]XVI n.s. (XXX ciclo

Statistical Methods fot the Detection of the Parent-of-Origin Effect in Genome-Wide Genotype Data

Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic mechanism that leads to differential contributions of maternal and paternal alleles to offspring gene expression in parent-of-origin (POE) manner. Recently, parent-of-origin effects have attracted attention due to their potential contribution in the explanation of \textquotedblleft missing heritability\textquotedblright. We propose two different procedures for detecting the POEs in genome wide genotype data from related individuals (twins) when the parental origin cannot be inferred. In the first approach we suggest a multistep procedure to detect POEs based on a variance test to evaluate the gene expression heterogeneity between the homozygous and the heterozygous groups. The second method exploits a finite mixture of linear mixed models to propose a test for capturing the presence of POEs; the key idea is that in the case of POEs the population can be clustered in two different groups in which the reference allele is inherited by a different parent. The core advantage of the second method is that it is an integrated procedure developed specifically for the detection of the parental effects, while the first method a multistep procedure which results computationally faster. The performance of the proposed tests are evaluated through a wide simulation study. A discovery analysis on microarray gene expression data of the MuTHER study is performed by both methods

Systems metabolomics: from metabolomic snapshots to design principles

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Preliminary results of geological characterization and geochemical monitoring of Sulcis Basin (Sardinia), as a potential CCS site

The Sulcis Basin is an area situated in SW Sardinia (Italy) and is a potential site for the development of CCS in Italy. This paper illustrates the preliminary results of geological characterization of fractured carbonate reservoir (Miliolitico Fm.) and the sealing sequence, composed by clay, marl and volcanic rocks, with a total thickness of more than 900 m. To characterize the reservoircaprock system an extensive structural-geological survey at the outcrop was conducted. It was also performed a study of the geochemical monitoring, to define the baseline conditions, measuring CO2 concentrations and flux in the study site

The Stat3-Fam3a axis promotes muscle stem cell myogenic lineage progression by inducing mitochondrial respiration.

Metabolic reprogramming is an active regulator of stem cell fate choices, and successful stem cell differentiation in different compartments requires the induction of oxidative phosphorylation. However, the mechanisms that promote mitochondrial respiration during stem cell differentiation are poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that Stat3 promotes muscle stem cell myogenic lineage progression by stimulating mitochondrial respiration in mice. We identify Fam3a, a cytokine-like protein, as a major Stat3 downstream effector in muscle stem cells. We demonstrate that Fam3a is required for muscle stem cell commitment and skeletal muscle development. We show that myogenic cells secrete Fam3a, and exposure of Stat3-ablated muscle stem cells to recombinant Fam3a in vitro and in vivo rescues their defects in mitochondrial respiration and myogenic commitment. Together, these findings indicate that Fam3a is a Stat3-regulated secreted factor that promotes muscle stem cell oxidative metabolism and differentiation, and suggests that Fam3a is a potential tool to modulate cell fate choices

Hyperspectral Chemical Imaging of Single Bacterial Cell Structure by Raman Spectroscopy and Machine Learning

6openopenBarzan, Giulia; Sacco, Alessio; Mandrile, Luisa; Giovannozzi, Andrea Mario; Portesi, Chiara; Rossi, Andrea MarioBarzan, Giulia; Sacco, Alessio; Mandrile, Luisa; Giovannozzi, Andrea Mario; Portesi, Chiara; Rossi, Andrea Mari